Algorithms for CO2 storage capacity estimation: Review and case study

Abstract

The estimation of CO2 storage capacity in deep geologic formations is a pre-requisite for an efficient and safe application of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). The evaluation of storage resources for CO2 geological sequestration is a challenging task and has been tackled using several static algorithms and dynamic methods, on a variety of scales ranging from country to site-specific. The purpose of this study is to present an up-to-date as well as an overall review of the storage capacity algorithms for oil and gas reservoirs, coal seams, and deep saline aquifers, including some worldwide estimation examples. Moreover, a practical application at local scale was also performed for an Italian deep reservoir located in the Po Plain (Northern Italy). The effective storage capacities were obtained applying the commonly established static methods, using both the theoretical and the geocellular volume of the reservoir. Although a conservative approach, this study demonstrates that the selected structure has favorable characteristics for CO2 geological storage and has the capacity to host the most part of the Po Plain CO2 emissions for several decades.